Kannabi Bridge. A vital bridge in the Land of Grass, spanning a wide, rushing river.
Kaito and his two clones stood in the distance, gazing at the not-particularly-long-or-large bridge, lost in thought.
"I still don't get it," Kaito began. "Why would destroying a bridge like this cut off Iwagakure's supply line? They're Iwa-nin, renowned for their numbers. Couldn't they just whip up an earth bridge with no problem? Or is Earth Release only good for fighting?"
"Canon logic aside," the chakra clone retorted, "if shinobi really knew how to use their jutsu to change the environment, the Land of Rain wouldn't be raining all the time, and the Land of Wind wouldn't be worried about water. So, it's just a plot device! That's how the author wrote it. If you don't like it, go challenge him to a fight."
"Oda is just a manga artist, what the hell does he know about Naruto?" the ice clone chimed in. "It's just an anime. You lose if you take it seriously."
"Tch. Always blaming Oda. Why don't you bring up Kubo?" Kaito shot back.
The three took turns venting their meta-commentary, and after getting it all out, they felt much better.
"Alright, let's get down to business," Kaito said with a snap of his fingers, his tone now serious.
"Have you found old man Madara?" the chakra clone asked, as the ice clone looked on curiously.
In terms of sensory abilities, besides Kaito's own Aura, the chakra clone could sense chakra and malice, though not from a great distance. As for the ice clone, he could only sense objects on ice; otherwise, he was blind. All in all, the Aura was superior.
Hearing their question, Kaito shook his head. "I haven't found Madara, but I've found their underground labyrinth. It's massive. What I've seen is just the tip of the iceberg. I have no idea how they dug it all."
"With free labor like White Zetsu, you could build an underground city," the chakra clone pointed out.
"Oh, right. Good point. Okay, you guys go. It's about a kilometer ahead in that direction, underground," Kaito said, pointing forward.
"Before we move, I have to get back into my other identity, of course." The chakra clone spun around once, instantly changing into his "Otsutsuki Zeroshiki" attire.
"Then I guess I'll need a mask too." The ice clone wiped a hand across his face, and a crystalline mask, like the one worn by Xu Fu, materialized, looking rather unsettling. "I'll call myself 'Teishakuten'."
"That's a pretty arrogant name. So who's the boss, you or me?" the chakra clone asked, displeased.
"Naturally, I'm the boss," the ice clone said, shooting him a sideways glance. "Can you even beat me?"
"Er..." Honestly, the chakra clone couldn't beat the ice clone. His greatest strength, absorbing ninjutsu, was useless against the ice clone. The ninjutsu he had learned posed no threat, and only the Tailed Beast Bomb would have some effect. If they were to truly fight, the odds would be about 3-7, with the chakra clone being the three.
Weighing his own fragile little body, he lowered his head in humiliation. "Fine, you're the boss. How about... Otsutsuki Teishakuten?"
"Otsutsuki Teishakuten? That's... odd." The ice clone glanced at the pitiful-looking chakra clone and nodded. "Alright, we'll go with that."
Kaito, eager to watch the main event, urged them on. "Hurry up! What's the hold-up?"
In response, he received two middle fingers.
BOOM!
With a tremendous explosion, the two clones smashed through the ground and landed in the tunnels below.
"I'll go first," the ice clone offered.
"Please, begin your performance." The chakra clone discreetly took two steps back.
"Hah..." The ice clone exhaled a breath of cold air, activating the power of the Icicle Plate. An aura of extreme cold emanated from his body, forming a suit of frost armor over him. He took a single step forward, and a thick layer of ice shot out from his position, rapidly spreading along the earthen walls of the tunnel and into the distance. Everything in its path was frozen solid, including a White Zetsu clone that had come to investigate the noise.
Deep within the tunnels, the original White Zetsu, who was standing beside Madara Uchiha, cried out in surprise. "Madara, someone's broken in, and they're super strong! Swoosh! My clone was frozen into a block of ice in an instant."
"No words, they just attacked?" Seated on his throne beneath the Gedo Statue, Madara, his face wrinkled and his hair almost completely white, frowned. "Has this place been discovered? White Zetsu, seal all the exits."
"Roger!" White Zetsu called over its clones, and together they began to grunt and heave a giant boulder toward the exit.
However, before the boulder could completely seal the passage, a wisp of icy air slipped through the crack.
"Oh no, oh no!"
"Let me!" A spiral-faced White Zetsu clone leaped down from the Gedo Statue and, with a powerful shove, successfully sealed the exit tight with the boulder.
"Phew, that was close. I was almost frozen solid," the original White Zetsu said, patting the spiral-faced clone on the shoulder. "Thanks to you, Tobi."
"Hehehe! That's because I'm the strongest White Zetsu!"
"Stop chatting and prepare for battle," Madara said gravely. "If they're here for me, they won't give up so easily."
"Aaaah! What do we do? I may be the strongest White Zetsu, but I've hardly ever been in a fight! I'm not going to get taken out instantly, am I? That would be so embarrassing!" The spiral-faced Tobi hugged himself, wriggling like a maggot.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm the one who should be worried! I'm not good at fighting," the original White Zetsu said, throwing his hands up. "Madara, how about I go scout an escape route for you?"
"..." Madara turned his head, not wanting to deal with the two idiots. He looked up at the Gedo Statue, his heart heavy. With them buying me time, I can retreat without a problem. But the Gedo Statue is too big of a target. It will be difficult to move.
Having lost his Rinnegan, he could no longer summon the Gedo Statue.
"The only option is to eliminate the intruders," Madara decided, touching the single Sharingan he had left. Suddenly, he shot to his feet in alarm, his gaze fixed to the side. "This chakra is... the Nine-Tails? This is not good!"
Meanwhile, the ice clone had used the spreading ice to roughly pinpoint Madara's hiding place. "There's a spot that was suddenly sealed off, blocking my ice. They must be in there."
"Which direction?"
"This way."
"Alright. Now it's my turn to perform." The chakra clone chuckled, activating the power of the Nine-Tails, his entire body glowing with golden light. "Heh. Let me send my regards to old man Madara. I hope he won't mind our rudeness."
He crossed his hands at his right hip, condensing a large golden sphere, and then violently thrust it in the direction the ice clone had indicated. "Nine-Tails Tailed Beast Bomb: Shockwave!"
BOOM!
A blindingly thick cannon of energy shot from his hands, tearing through the dense layers of earth and instantly reaching the chamber where Madara was. The dazzling golden light bleached their faces white.
RUUUMBLE!
The ground suddenly shattered as a pillar of light erupted, destroying everything in the vicinity.
Kaito, hiding in the distance, covered his eyes with his hand and let out a long sigh. "Another 'peaceful' day, I see."
Xu Fu: A Chinese alchemist who was sent by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to find the elixir of life. Legend says he traveled to Japan and is now revered there as a deity of farming, medicine, and silk.
Teishakuten: The Japanese name for the Buddhist deity Śakra, also known as Indra. He is a powerful guardian deity.
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